Springtime Farming: A Happy Wife At Home

Chapter 2032: Power to Protect Oneself

Sun Bai, Sun Qian, and Zheng Sangge convened a meeting with Shao Yunduan, their skepticism toward the government palpable. They had never truly identified themselves as public servants; their loyalty lay solely with Shao Yunduan.

With the world on the brink of chaos and the three major powers engaged in conflict, they anticipated the emergence of opportunistic factions seeking to exploit the turmoil.

In times of disjointed decrees and fragmented authority, nefarious elements were bound to emerge.

In such turbulent times, the law held little sway; it was the power of the fist that truly mattered.

Especially within the territories established by the three princes in the capital. Should powerful individuals aligned with them perpetrate unlawful acts, would they face severe repercussions?

Highly unlikely.

Their actions would likely be met with impunity.

Despite Anze Prefecture City’s remote location, they understood the importance of preparation.

Strategizing before taking action was paramount.

At the very least, they needed the strength to defend themselves.

Shao Yunduan concurred wholeheartedly.

After deliberation, Zheng Sangge and Sun Bai took steps to bolster their ranks by recruiting numerous bailiffs for training. Additionally, they procured over a hundred teenagers aged between 12 and 15. While a handful remained at Zheng Sangge’s residence for training, the majority were discreetly dispatched to the ranch in Mili Town for intensive training.

In the event that someone sought to exploit the chaos and target Shao Yunduan, having additional manpower would undoubtedly prove beneficial.

With the upper echelons in disarray, it wasn’t just Anze Prefecture City expanding its personnel. Wherever feasible, local governments were expanding their ranks.

Fortunately, Shao Yunduan had no shortage of funds, and the citizens of Anze City held great confidence in him. The moment word got out about recruitment, countless young men eagerly flocked to the state office.

With Sun Bai, Sun Qian, and others overseeing their training, these recruits were expected to excel in less than three months.

Meanwhile, the conflict between the Fourth Prince and the Third Prince dragged on longer than anticipated, stretching into April of the following year, with Jinan facing imminent peril.

Buoyed by his resolve, the Fourth Prince mobilized an additional 80,000 troops from the local area, intent on delivering a decisive blow to the Third Prince to bolster morale and assert his authority.

Unexpectedly, the previously passive Second Prince, focused on development and aloof from the fray, chose this moment to take action.

It was a bold and decisive move.

They orchestrated the assassination of two generals loyal to the Fourth Prince and ambushed his reinforcements, effectively thwarting his plans.

The defeat of the Fourth Prince’s reinforcements dealt a severe blow to his campaign.

Seizing the momentum, the Third Prince launched a counteroffensive, sallying forth from the city to engage in skirmishes with the Fourth Prince’s forces. In a devastating blow, they decimated the Fourth Prince’s troops and, crucially, set fire to their granary.

The Fourth Prince teetered on the edge of fury, but his hands were tied.

Fuming with rage, he assumed an orthodox stance and issued a decree calling upon the northwest to dispatch their army to Jinan to quell the rebellion.

To his dismay, the Northwest Army remained unmoved. They cited manpower shortages and their steadfast commitment to border defense as reasons for their refusal to mobilize.

The Fourth Prince’s authority waned further as the Northwest Army made it clear they would not heed the commands of any prince. In fact, they were reluctant to align themselves with any of the warring factions.

Today, the intermediate generals of the Northwest Army found themselves deeply indebted to the memory of Old General Zhao.

In times past, the venerable general had met a tragic end, unjustly accused and executed despite his distinguished service. His demise did not occur on the battlefield, but rather under the cloud of suspicion cast by the emperor, leading to the execution of his entire family.

The generals couldn’t help but shudder at the thought. Were it not for Old General Zhao’s impassioned plea to defend the northern borders and safeguard the peace of Great Qin’s people, many among their ranks might have abandoned their posts and shirked their responsibilities.